The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-09-03
THE UTE TROUBLE.


Details of the Fight Near Rangely-E Eht
Indians Reported Kined-Ono White
Man Killed and Several WOundcd -Fears
of Bloody Work by Raiding Parties OF
Indians on Unprotected Ranohers and
Others.
CAMP ADAMS, MEEKER, Col, Aug. o.
:35 a. m, via GLENwooD SPRINGS, Col,
Aug. N.-3 p. ma courier from Pray
has just arrived from Rangely, sixty.five
miles west of Meeker. He brings news Of
the first fight. The Utes opened fire first
at $3.50 a. m, August 81. Jack Ward of
Kendall's party is killed and FIVE men are
wounded, two Of the sheriff's party and
three of the Colorado National Guards.
There were forty of the troops and forty of
the sheriff's men engaged with about one
hundred and twenty-five Utes. Three Utes
are known to have been killed certainly,
and how many more is only surmised.
The Indians are said to be attacking the
ranches below and butchering the ranch.
ers, and it is expected that troops will
have to go to their assistance. Pray, cap
tain of the scouts, had his horse shot from
under him, but he is unhurt, DR.. Dumont,
Of Meeker, was wounded.
The fight occurred at place six miles
west of Rangely, in little canyon be-
tween the mountains. The Indians had
planned an ambush, but the scouts discov.
cred it and retreated in time. The Indians
opened fire, and Major Leslie, who com
manded the scouts, which were augmented
by Major Hooper's Aspen volunteers, re.
turned the fire from behind the rocks, The
Indians showed themselves and fought
desperately. Upon the first con
centrated fire of the troops two In
dams fell, and one white man, DIR
Dumont, of Meeker, with Kendall
band, was wounded. For two hours the
battle ragged incessantly, when the Utes re.
treated to timber and only skirmish shots
were fired during the day. This continued
until eleven O'Clock last night, but no one
was injured. Jack Ward, one of Kendalls
men, was shot down during the first par
Of the fight. The whites saw eight Indian
dragged behind the line. The Indians were
dead. There were five whites wounded.
At twelve O'Clock the news is confirmed
that eight Indians were killed, three il
the early part Of the fight and five later.
The hospital is well arranged and ready
for occupancy in the Meeker schoolhouse
Meeker is as quiet as a funeral. Little
groups on the streets have got wind of tn,
news and are waiting with bated breath
Many who asserted last night with greai
gusto that the Utes were escaping and OF
the reservation are W thoroughly asham
ed. An official dispatch states that tn,
militia went into action calmly and
fought coolly. When the Utes open
ed fire, seven troopers, with
more pluck than discretion charg.
ed on them. It is believed by
Pray that there will be no more walking
after Indians. The Utes will make a
standing fight. The fight lasted all day,
August %, and when the scout courier
left at eleven p. M, rifles were still cracking
! 1t is probable that another fight has oe.
Cured to-day (the 26th).
1t was expected that the Indians were
largely reinforced, but Pray reported al
, eleven p. m. that victory was with the
! whites. The troopers, scouts and posse
are absolutely on foot with no forage foI
their horses but sage-brush.
Reinforcements are urgently and quickly
needed. The fight was forced by the Utes,
who are aggressive and mean bloody bust,
ness. The condition of the ranchers who
> laughed at this "Indian farce" an6
: started for their remote ranches alone
. down White river, is very pitiable. l ex.
pect that ranches on the Glenwood anC
Meeker road will be raided any moment
as there is nothing to prevent it, We may
now look for Indian murders on small par
, ties of railroad graders, timber-cutters
:, prospectors, surveyors, camping par
!, ties and every small unpro
nptn Il
where. The Indians usually travel seven
ty-five to one hundred miles daily, steal
: ing fresh horses as they go and killing thu
I. exhausted ones to prevent them falling
into the hands Of the enemy. They car
I subsist on raw meat alone, ard this il
. what makes it so hard for men to foil ov
and overtake them on one mount. Til
later news comes from the front can no
,, predict whether the Utes will follow tn,
policy of a running and raiding figh
" or not. Whatever the result o
\ !, their fight may be, it must be re
membered the troops have had nothing t.
: eat for two and one-half days, and theil
horses are all played out. Besides this
u there were so few of them and so many o
i the enemy. Those who know the country
claim the fight occurred only about fifteel
e miles from the reservation lines, and tina
IS the country is very broken and full o
deep ravines and gullies.
e Opinions of people here at Meeker vary
e greatly. A great many think the Ute
we're on their way to the reservation ant
= there would have been no fight if they ha,
y been left alone. Others declare that tn
,, Indians were nearer the reservation at tn
o time than is stated in the last report.
n A Railroad Land Case